His work to bring equality and understanding for the LGBTQ community was honoured during Amherst’s Pride flag-raising ceremony on Monday at the town flagpoles at the Cumberland YMCA.
“Eldon was a constant in his endeavour to make positive change,” activist Gerard Veldhoven said during a tribute to Hay, who died last September. “He was a sought after speaker, and advisor, and this became Eldon’s way of contributing to the betterment of Canada’s LGBTQ society.”
Veldhoven said Hay’s passion for equal treatment went far beyond the needs of the LGBTQ community to include advocating for the rights of any individual or group of people.
“This is precisely the reason he has won the respect and love of so many,” said Veldhoven, adding it was Hay who gave him inspiration through the years. “He was a wonderful ally, who possessed a most unique sense of humour and was without doubt one of Canada’s most outstanding citizens.”
Hay, who was named to the Order of Canada in 2004, began his journey as an activist in support of his son and daughter. Veldhoven said Hay had a conviction that equality will be a reality and that was spurred on by his concerns for his children.
“That conviction spread toward all in the LGBTQ2 community and we are forever grateful,” said Velhoven, who was part of the first legally gay couple to wed in Nova Scotia.
Born and raised in Marvelville, Ont., Hay attended Queens and Carleton Universities, studying theology, and was ordained as a United Church minister in 1957. He then went on to receive a doctorate in theology from Glasgow University in Scotland.
Teaching various courses over his 35 years at Mount Allison, including world religion and theology, he retired from the university in 1997 with Professor Emeritus status. During that time, he also served as a part-time minister, mainly at the Jolicure and Pointe de Bute parishes.
Hay has been an avid human rights activist over the years, dealing with issues related to feminism, anti-semitism, and anti-French sentiments.
It was in 1986, however, when his son Ron came out as gay, that he then began to place more focus on erasing anti-homophobic views as well.
Hay’s advocacy for LGBTQ rights was instrumental in getting a regional chapter of PFLAG started in Moncton in the early 1990s. Months later, he helped initiate a PFLAG chapter in Amherst as well. Through group meetings and get-togethers, PFLAG not only offered support, education and comfort for the family and friends of lesbians and gays but also worked towards a healthy society respectful of gender and sexuality.
While the LGBTQ community has made significant gains, Mason Carter, who identifies as queer, said there remain many pitfalls and challenges. He said being queer can be very divisive and stressful.
“The thoughts that cloud my mind and keep me from expressing myself are horrifying and scary; they forbid me from peeing in public bathrooms because a mother might think I’m there to molest her child. They forbid me from correcting people on my pronouns because what if I end up like Sasha Wall, or Tonya Harvey, or the 10 other men and women killed for being transgender in this year alone,” Carter said.
Carter said it’s hard to fight with teachers to call him a boy or when a teacher assigns he and three girls to a cluster of desks and refers to it as a “group of girls,” or when he has to confront a teacher in front of the class and make them apologize while peers ogle him like he’s some strange beast.
“My life is consumed of thoughts of how to protect myself and that eats away at a person,” Carter said. “I love myself and I wouldn’t change a thing about who I am.”
Still, Carter said that as bad as things can get, there are still supportive people out there.
Various events are scheduled throughout the week, including the first time the Pride flag will be raised in Oxford. Events culminate on Saturday with Amherst’s second Pride parade beginning at 2 p.m. with activities continuing in Victoria Square until 5 p.m.
Twitter: @ADNdarrell